State Regulations

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CLOSED FRIDAYS, WEEKENDS, & STATE HOLIDAYS

What
are Critical Areas?

Critical Areas in Island County are environmentally
sensitive natural resources that have been designated
for protection and management in accordance with the
requirements of our State's Growth Management Act
(GMA). Protection and management of these areas is
important to the preservation of ecological functions
of our natural environment, as well as the protection
of the public health, safety and welfare of our community.

To
learn more about each of these Critical Areas,click
on the images below.

Wetlands

Fish & Wildlife Habitat
Conservation Areas (FWHCA)

Geologically
Hazardous Areas

Frequently
Flooded Areas

Critical
Aquifer Recharge Areas

Critical
Areas and My Development Proposal

If
you are submitting a development proposal (building
permit or land use permit), you
need fill out and submit a Field
Indicators Worksheet even if there are no known
critical areas on your property.
The Wetland
I.D. Guide contains instructions for completing
the Field Indicators Worksheet.

Follow
these instructions to determine if Island County has
a record of a wetland on or near your property:

If your property is affected by
a wetland or wetland buffer then complete the appropriate
instructions listed in step 4.

If
you are submitting a development proposal, you need
to address all critical areas
found on your parcel. View Island County's Critical
Area Maps or Google Earth Maps on our MAPS
page here to determine if other known critical areas
are present on your property which include*:

Applicants
for single family structures (residences), whose property
is affected by wetlands or wetland buffers, must also
complete the Land Use Intensity Worksheet
and the Wetland Buffer Worksheet
found in the back of the Wetland
I.D. Guide

Download
Instructions(coming
soon) for using Google Earth to complete
the Wetland Buffer Worksheet

or

Applicants
for subdivisions, non-residential or commercial uses,
whose property is affected by wetlands or wetland
buffers, must hire a wetlands professional and submit
a Wetland Report that contains the
elements of the Land Use Intensity and Wetland Buffer
Worksheets found in the back of the Wetland
I.D. Guide

*Island
County's Critical Area maps are helpful tools, however on-site
conditions may be different and Island County's regulations
are based on site conditions, not mapped features.

For
more information about the Permit Process and updates to the
Critical Areas Ordinance, check out the following links: